Betrayal of Trust: Traditional Healer Jailed 14 Years for Attempted Sexual Assault of Epileptic Girl
A Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced Segun Shina, a traditional herbalist, to 14 years imprisonment for the attempted sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl suffering from epilepsy.
Justice Rahman Oshodi handed down the sentence following Shina’s guilty plea under a plea bargain agreement, which reduced his original charge of defilement, a crime that carries a potential life sentence, to attempted sexual assault.
Plea Bargain Leads to Guilty Plea
Initially arraigned on April 4, 2021, for defilement, Shina had pleaded not guilty. However, during the course of the trial, he opted for a plea bargain, ultimately changing his plea to guilty on an amended one-count charge of attempted sexual assault.
Justice Oshodi emphasized that Shina’s voluntary admission of guilt, alongside the evidence presented, proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
“You exploited the vulnerability of a child brought to you for healing and broke the trust placed in you as a traditional herbal healer,” the judge stated while delivering the judgment.
Case Background: Abuse of Trust Under the Guise of Healing
The survivor’s mother had taken her epileptic daughter to Shina, trusting in his abilities as a traditional healer. However, what was meant to be a search for healing ended in betrayal.
During the trial, State Counsel Bukola Okeowo presented testimonies from the survivor’s mother and an investigative police officer, alongside physical evidence, which strengthened the prosecution’s case.
The mother recounted how she had sought Shina’s help for her daughter’s epilepsy, only to later discover his predatory intentions.
Court’s Ruling: A Message Against Abuse
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi condemned Shina’s exploitation of his role as a healer and stressed the severe breach of trust in the case. While considering the plea for leniency, he also highlighted the gravity of the crime.
“I must stress that the original charge carried the possibility of life imprisonment. This court has shown mercy, but the harm done to the child cannot be overlooked,” the judge remarked.
Key points of the sentencing include:
14 years’ imprisonment, backdated to November 16, 2018, the date of Shina’s arrest.
Registration as a sex offender under Lagos State law.
A no-contact order with the survivor or her family, directly or indirectly.
A directive for Shina’s family to facilitate his rehabilitation upon release.
Legal Implications and Community Impact
The offence violated Section 262 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, which criminalizes attempted sexual assault.
The case underscores the vulnerability of children, especially those with medical conditions, and highlights the need for heightened vigilance in communities where traditional healing practices are common.
Legal advocates have praised the judgment as a step toward ensuring that individuals who exploit positions of trust, particularly when it involves children, face the full weight of the law.
